Five questions about … the struggling White Sox

Paul Konerko (above) and the Chicago White Sox have been taking a beating in the standings, losing 19 of their past 24 games.<br> Click on the photos for a preview of the Angels-White Sox series in Anaheim this week.<br> TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT, AP PHOTO

The Angels spent a miserable weekend in Chicago last month.

Game-time temperatures were in the 30s and 40s. Rain interrupted two of the games. And snow fell on the Windy City overnight as the Angels left town.

Click on the photo for a preview of the Angels-White Sox series.

But things have really gotten miserable for the White Sox since then. That series – a three-game sweep by the Angels – started a freefall by the South Siders. They have lost 19 of their past 24 games through Sunday and come to Anaheim this week with the worst record in baseball (13-22).

Before this week's rematch in the less harsh climate of Orange County, we checked in with Chicago Tribune beat writer Mark Gonzales for some perspective on the struggling Sox. You can find Gonzo's coverage here.

Paul Konerko (above) and the Chicago White Sox have been taking a beating in the standings, losing 19 of their past 24 games. Click on the photos for a preview of the Angels-White Sox series in Anaheim this week.TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT, AP PHOTO1) Who deserves more of the blame for the White Sox's 13-22 record -- GM Kenny Williams or manager Ozzie Guillen (above)?TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT, AP PHOTO

The players, particularly the batters. They've failed in just about every category possible.

Most alarming is their lack of clutch hitting since the second week of the season. They also have hit a large majority of home runs with nobody on base.

Fundamentals have been lacking even though they worked on them daily in spring training. Fans have been understandably angry over the dropped flies and other assorted mishaps. I just don't think the players are playing smart baseball.

Some fans already are declaring the Dunn signing was terrible. It's a little early, although his production has been non-existent. Dunn is finding out quickly that AL pitching is much tougher.

Ozzie has tweaked the lineup, but it's not like he can make sweeping changes because many hitters are struggling and the reserves are no more than reserves, with the possible exception of Mark Teahen.

There were some questionable decisions prior to the first Angels' series, but this one is on the players.

TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT, AP PHOTO2) What is at the root of the Sox's 5-19 freefall (through Sunday) since mid-April?

(Outfielder Carlos Quentin, above.)TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT, AP PHOTO

Lack of offense -plain and simple.

(Brent Lillibridge, above, and the rest of the White Sox's hitters rank in the bottom third of the AL in nearly every offensive statistic.)TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT, AP PHOTO3) Are you sure all they removed was Adam Dunn's appendix?TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT, AP PHOTO

He's an interesting study because he needed all five weeks to get his timing, but then he lost it after the appendectomy.

(Dunn, above, is hitting just .167 with three home runs and 14 RBI in 28 games.)TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT, AP PHOTO4) Has the White Sox's offense underachieved by fewer than four runs per game -- or is that all there is?

(Catcher A.J.Pierzynski, above, is batting .226 with one home run and 11 RBI.)TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT, AP PHOTO

Absolutely underachieved, especially after what it did in the first five games at Cleveland and Kansas City.

(The White Sox -- including Alex Rios, above -- scored 40 runs in their first five games of the season against the Indians and Royals. Since then, they have averaged 3.1 runs per game.)TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT, AP PHOTO5) What was the most unimpressive thing about Francisco Liriano's no-hitter against the White Sox last week?TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT, AP PHOTO

Nothing against Liriano. He's a terrific talent. But the Sox left him off the hook early and swung at several pitches out of the strike zone. I had a feeling around the fifth inning that Liriano would complete the no-hitter.

(Liriano went into his no-hit start with a 9.13 ERA and no complete games or shutouts in his professional career -- majors or minor leagues. He walked six and struck out only two batters in the no-hitter.)TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT, AP PHOTO
Pitching probables for the Angels-White Sox series in Anaheim:

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